Himanshu Guru
When you ask an Oriya woman whether she loves to be called as a traditional Oriya woman, you would more often get a mixed response. There are instances where women feel great about it, while there are instances galore as well where they refused the image of a typical Oriya women by terming it ‘slightly backward’. However, let us explore the positive side.
These days competitions are being organised in the state where participants are asked to follow a traditional Oriya dress code and perform some typical Oriya rituals or practices like making jhoti, putting on veil to cover head etc. Orissa Post chats with some women about how they feel being seen as a typical tradition loving Oriya woman.
Nibedita Patra is from Nabrangpur district. She loves to be called a typical Oriya woman. She feels happy to perform the typical Oriya rituals during functions. She said, “I am happy to take part in traditional Oriya festivals. I do Savitri brata, Manabasa Gurubara, Raja utsav etc. These festivals give you a chance to know your own culture and tradition and besides, it also provides me a great deal of satisfaction. I am also good at making jhoti, rangoli, chita etc. I have earned a lot of admiration from my near and dear ones for this. Of course, here in Nabrangpur one can witness presence of some south Indian cultures, but I don’t find any negativity if someone calls me a ‘khanti Oriya bohu’.
“According to me a typical Oriya women means they are Oriya at heart and understand the value of relationships. Whether you are a niece, a daughter, a granddaughter or a wife, the strong family bonding is always primary in Oriya culture. I think this is not that much strong in western culture,” said Pushpita Mohanty from Bhubaneswar, who owns a beauty parlour in the city. About her business she said, “I am happy that I can earn something for my family with the talent I have. And I of course enjoy my work. Helping hubby economically is another typical element of Oriya women and I feel proud to be called as a typical Oriya.”
“I feel happy to be called a typical Oriya woman. I feel culture and festivals are the roots of any tradition. One can analyse one’s attachment to a certain place (she means state) through these factors. And because there are many festivals that are observed at home by women in Orissa, they play an important part. We need to take shower early in the morning in the cool month of Kartika to visit temples. But it gives satisfaction. Besides, family bonding in our culture also offers immense happiness,” said Dr Sonalin Mohapatra from Berhampur.
Arati Guru is a perfect family woman. She is a government employee but leaves no stone unturned to observe the traditional festivals ranging from Nuakhai, Bhaijiunita to Puajiunita Sitalsasthi etc. She said, “I am an Oriya and love to be called as an Oriya woman. If tags like traditional or typical is added that is a bonus for me. Oriyas, especially in western Orissa we observe a range of typical festivals, which are I think cannot be witnessed in other regions. Manabasa Gurubar, Nua khai etc. give immense pleasure and I feel myself fortunate to be a part of it. Yeh, these days Oriya women are adopting other cultures and traditional attires, but that is cool. But, whatever, I am happy to be an Oriya woman.”